When it comes to chimney liners, the team at Brickliners knows their stuff. Liners are critical to the safe operation of any chimney system and are now required for a chimney to be up to code. Not only will they prolong the life of your masonry chimney, but they will also protect your home from costly damage! A chimney without a properly functioning liner is considered to be extremely dangerous and unusable.
Why Are Chimney Liners So Important?
A chimney liner is a crucial part of every chimney system. It performs 3 major functions:
- A chimney liner protects the home from heat transfer. When you enjoy a fire, it obviously produces a great deal of heat. Without a chimney liner to absorb it, this heat will be transferred to the other parts of your home around the chimney. This can cause warping of the building materials and can even ignite a fire. A properly installed and maintained chimney liner will protect the home from this heat.
- A chimney liner protects the masonry from the corrosive byproducts of combustion that can eat away at the brick and mortar and cause structural damage to your home. Chimney liners are specifically designed to stand up to this chemical abuse and, when properly maintained, will protect your masonry for years.
- A chimney is finely tuned to vent smoke and dangerous carbon monoxide out of the top, without allowing air to flow back into the home. This balance is maintained by the shape and surface of the flue liner. Without a liner, a chimney can be inefficient, ineffective, and dangerous.
There Are Many Liners To Choose From
When it comes to chimney liners there are many different materials used, all with different properties, advantages, and disadvantages. A professional CSIA-certified chimney sweep, like those at Brickliners, can tell you what type of liner is best for your particular chimney. Today, there are 3 primary types of chimney liners:
Clay Tiles/Terra Cotta – This is the most common type of chimney liner. They are cheap and readily available, but they do have some major disadvantages. Clay tiles are not particularly good at absorbing and distributing heat, so they have a tendency to crack and break. They also are not very good at containing the liquid combustion byproducts produced by today’s gas appliances.
Metal Chimney Liners – These are usually made of stainless steel or aluminum and are extremely durable and safe. They are used mostly to repair existing chimney systems in which the clay tile liners are beyond repair, and are also commonly installed when an appliance or fuel source is changed. Stainless steel liners can be used with any type of fuel source, while aluminum is generally only recommended with gas appliances. Metal liners usually require high temperature insulation to be used alongside the liner itself.
Cast-In-Place Liners – These are castable chimney liners that conform to the shape of your chimney. They form a seamless barrier between your masonry and the heat and gases inside your chimney, and can even improve the structural integrity of an older chimney. Suitable for all types of fireplaces and fuels, these are considered to be the top- of-the-line chimney liners.
We also offer HeatShield®, which can repair and resurface many clay liners — read more here!
Call Brickliners To Have Your Chimney Liner Repaired Or Replaced Today!
Brickliners has been serving Vermont’s chimney lining and relining needs for years. Call us today at (802) 872-0123 or click here to request your appointment!
One of the most-asked-for chimney or fireplace services we offer is a regular and thorough chimney sweeping. It’s a simple way to help ensure your family’s safety.
Chimney Liners Gallery
